STM-STM平台2019联盟营销报告（英文）-2019.4-220页_4mb

Summary of "What's Working in Affiliate Marketing 2019"

Core Content

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the state of affiliate marketing in 2019, compiled from insights of top affiliates, e-commerce experts, SEO specialists, traffic networks, affiliate networks, and spy tool owners. It serves as a guide for understanding the most effective traffic sources, offer verticals, and strategies for success in the industry.

Main Sections

The report is divided into six main sections:

1. Intel From Spy Tools
2. Insights From Top Affiliates
3. Insights From Ecommerce Experts
4. Insights From SEO Experts
5. Insights From Traffic Networks
6. Insights From Affiliate Networks

Each section contains contributions from industry leaders, organized by the individual's last name or the name of the network they represent.

Key Insights

1. Traffic Types and Offer Verticals

• Native Ads are expected to dominate in 2019 due to improved targeting and tech capabilities.
• Push Notifications remain a popular and effective format for affiliates with their own databases, though may face regulation in the future.
• Facebook Ads continue to be a major channel, but are becoming more expensive and less predictable. Mobile video ads are performing well.
• Display Ads are still relevant, especially on mobile.
• Email Marketing remains a stable and effective channel for list building and nurturing.
• Pop and Display are still popular but increasingly saturated with bot traffic.
• Influencer Marketing has seen tremendous growth, with real people promoting based on personal experience.

2. Offer Verticals

• Evergreen verticals such as dating, gambling, sweepstakes, nutra, and finance continue to thrive.
• CBD has emerged as a hot topic due to its legalization progress.
• Ecommerce is growing, with more affiliates moving into dropshipping and COD offers.
• Financial and cryptocurrency offers remain a significant blackhat vertical, though with more sophisticated landing pages and strategies.
• Diet and skin products are still popular, especially in the US and Europe.

3. Black Hat vs. White Hat Strategies

• White Hat strategies are generally preferred for long-term stability and relationship building.
• Black Hat remains a high-risk, high-reward approach, but is becoming harder to execute due to improved detection by platforms like Facebook.
• Black Hat campaigns are less distinguishable from White Hat ones, with more focus on image quality and less aggressive ad text.

4. Trends and Recommendations

• Push notification traffic is expected to continue to grow, though may face regulation.
• Email marketing remains a powerful tool for building and maintaining relationships with audiences.
• Compound interest and investment are highlighted as important for long-term financial security.
• Diversification is recommended, with a mix of affiliate campaigns and tech ventures.

Main Viewpoints

• Facebook is still a major player, but its algorithms are getting better at detecting blackhat activities.
• Google is gaining more attention due to its stability and the potential for high-quality content.
• Traffic sources are evolving, with some formats declining and others rising in popularity.
• Affiliate networks are adapting to the changing landscape, with a focus on more sophisticated and exclusive offers.
• Spy tools provide valuable data on traffic trends and offer performance, helping affiliates make informed decisions.

Key Information

• Native Ads and Push Notifications are seen as the future of affiliate marketing.
• Ecommerce is expanding, with more affiliates moving into this space.
• CBD and diet/skin products are among the top performing offer verticals.
• Email marketing is still a key component for list building and lead generation.
• Relationship building is emphasized as a critical factor for long-term success.
• Investment and financial planning are recommended to ensure sustainability in the industry.

Trends in 2019

• Increased regulation on push notification and other traffic formats is expected.
• More sophisticated landing pages and unique angles are needed for financial and crypto offers.
• Influencer marketing is becoming more mainstream and is expected to continue its growth.
• Mobile traffic is becoming more important, especially with the rise of native and push ads.
• Ecommerce and dropshipping are becoming more popular among affiliates.

Conclusion

The report concludes that while the landscape of affiliate marketing is constantly changing, many core principles remain the same. The emphasis is on adapting to new trends, building strong relationships, and focusing on sustainable, profitable strategies. It also serves as a tribute to Hugh Hancock, a key figure in the industry who passed away in 2018, and highlights the importance of staying informed and proactive in a fast-paced environment.

Next Steps

• Focus on high-quality, long-term strategies such as white hat and native advertising.
• Diversify your income streams by investing in assets and exploring new verticals.
• Stay updated with industry trends and continuously test and optimize your campaigns.

Affiliate Marketing Acronyms

• CPM: Cost Per Mille
• CPC: Cost Per Click
• ROI: Return On Investment
• CTR: Click Through Rate
• LTV: Lifetime Value
• KOL: Key Opinion Leader
• DSP: Demand Side Platform
• CTA: Call To Action
• SEO: Search Engine Optimization
• CRO: Conversion Rate Optimization

Dedication

This report is dedicated to Hugh Hancock, who was a significant contributor to the STM Forum and played a key role in shaping the insights shared in this document.